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Effects of Different Tree Leaf Litters on Growth and Yield of Okra in Modhupur Forest Soil

M.F. KHATUN
Post Graduate Student
Department of Agro-forestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M.A.H. CHOWDHURY
Professor
Department of Agricultural Chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M.S. ISLAM
Scientific Officer
Soil Science Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh

S.M.S. HAIDER
Scientific Officer
Agronomy Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh

M.Z.A. TALUKDER
Scientific Officer
Breeding Division, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Gazipur, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

A pot experiment was conducted in the open net house of the department of agricultural chemistry, Bangladesh Agricultural University, during 20th March to 15th July 2006, to study the effects of different tree leaf litters and chemical fertilizer on the growth and yield of okra in Modhupur soil. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications and twelve treatments viz. T_A: Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), T_B: Bohera (Terminalia bellirica), T_G: Gamer (Gmelina arborea), T_F: Chemical fertilizer, T_S: Sal (Shorea robusta) and T₀: Control (No leaf litter i.e. soil only) and also two varieties were V₁: Local dherosh and V₂: BARI dherosh-1. All the leaf litters were applied @ 20 ton per hectare and recommended dose (N₆₉ P₃₀ K₆₀S₂₀ kg ha^-1) of chemical fertilizers. Different leaf litters had significant effect on the growth and yield of okra. The performance of BARI dheros-1 was better than the local one. Among the treatments fertilizers gave highest (13.08 t ha^-1) yield and lowest (5.79 t ha^-1) in control treatment. The interaction effect (T_FV₂) gave highest yield (14.78 t ha^-1) and the lowest (5.76 t ha^-1) in T_AV₁ treatment. In some cases Acacia and Bohera showed identical result with chemical fertilizers.

Keywords: Tree leaf litters, growth, yield, okra

Location: Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh

Start Date: 20-03-2006

End Date: 15-07-2006

Program Area: Crop-Soil-Water Management

Commodity: Okra

Objectives:

To study the effects of different tree leaf litters and chemical fertilizer on the growth and yield of okra in Modhupur soil

Methodology:

A pot experiment was carried out on okra during 20^thMarch to 15^thJuly 2006, in the open net house of the Department of Agro-forestry, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), Mymensingh. The experiment was laid out in Completely Randomized Design (CBD) with three replications. Twelve treatment combinations were used in this experiment. The treatments were T_A: Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), T_B: Bohera (Terminalia bellirica), T_G: Gamer (Gmelina arborea), T_F: Chemical fertilizer (N₆₉P₃₀K₆₀S₂₀kg ha^-1as recommended dose), T_S: Sal (Shorea robusta) and T₀: Control (No leaf litter i.e. soil only). Different leaf litter and their applied form (ground) are presented in Fig. 1a-4b. Varieties were V₁: Local dherosh and V₂: BARI dherosh-1. All the leaf litters were applied @ 20 ton per hectare and chemical fertilizers were applied @ recommended (N₆₉P₃₀K₆₀S₂₀kg ha^-1) dose.

In order to conduct the study, Modhupur Sal forest, Talky, Modhupur was selected to conduct the study. The soil used in this experiment was collected from this selected area of the concern forest. The initial surface soils of 0-15 cm depth were collected from there on 10th March of 2007. The land was fallow when soil samples were collected. The soil samples were put into bags and were taken to the laboratory. The collected soils were air dried, sun dried for several days, ground, plant residues and other extraneous materials were removed and were sieved through 10-mesh sieve and mixed thoroughly. This whole process was done several times until adequate amount of soil was prepared for the experiment. Acacia (Acacia auriculiformis), Bohera (Terminalia bellirica), and Gamer (Gmelina arborea), Sal (Shorea robusta) leaf litter were collected from different locations of Modhupur Sal forest. The samples were then brought to the laboratory of the department of Agricultural Chemistry. The composite samples were washed and dried under open sunlight followed by oven drying at 60⁰C for 48 hours and ground in a steel grinding mill containing a fine sieve. Prepared samples were stored in desiccators before using. Before use of these leaf litters, chemical analysis was done by using standard methods of analysis in Soil Science Division, BARI, Gazipur. To conduct the experiment BARI dherosh-1 and local variety were selected and seeds were collected from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), Joydebpur and (12 x 12 inch²) earthen pots were arranged and each pot was poured with 8 kg finely ground sieved soil. The ground leaf litter were added to the pot and mixed with the soil very well and then the soil was saturated with water and allowed to keep for 15 days for the well decomposition of the leaf litter. After 15 days 3 seeds were sown uniformly in each pot. The chemical fertilizers were mixed with soil in the previous day of sowing. The urea fertilizer was applied at two installments. Thinning was done at 7 DAS and finally one healthy plant was kept in each pot. Irrigation and other intercultural operations were done if where necessary.

Data were collected on plant height (cm), number of branch per plant, date of first harvest (DAS), fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), total number of fruits per plant, weight of individual fruit (g), yield (t ha^-1) and total biomass ( t ha^-1). The harvesting was done during 80 to145 days after sowing. The collected data viz. yields parameters were statistically analyzed by F-test to examine the treatment effects and the mean differences were adjudged by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT). The software package MSTAT was followed for statistical analysis.

Source of Information: Int. J. Expt. Agric. 1(1): 5-11, (2010)

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

1. Government

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Fertilizers showed better performance to cultivate okra but tree leaf litters have significant influence on the growth and yield of okra. Among the four leaf litters the performance of Bohera was better than others. Instantly, leaf litters may not be a substitute of chemical fertilizer and can not compensate solely. Therefore, to sustain soil fertility for vegetable production, the people of Madhupur can use these natural resources as combination with leaf litters and fertilizers which found balance according to nutrition demand and to sustain soil health.

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